New Delhi, Jan. 27 -- France has moved closer to becoming the second country in the world to bar children under 15 from social media, after lawmakers in the National Assembly approved landmark legislation aimed at curbing excessive screen time and protecting young people's mental health.

Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media for minors, prohibiting children under 16 from accessing major platforms in an effort to curb online harms and protect adolescent mental health.

The bill, adopted following a lengthy overnight debate in French National Assembly, marks a significant escalation in the government's campaign to regulate children's digital lives and has been strongly endorsed by President Emmanu...